Part 5 up. More suspicion is throw on Grissom's integrity... Overall scenario: What if it was Gil Grissom was the Will Graham char in 'Manhunter? Now his past is catching up with him. Inc GSR! Abit of fluff. Was one shot now extended WIP

This
was originally a oneshot now extended. I have slightly changed Part
1, basically corrected the name of the FBI man to Jack Crawford
rather than use the name of WP's character of Will Graham. At the
time I could not recall the name (too lazy to look it up on the
internet) but Reviews found this a distraction.

I
have now added a second chapter.

Explaination:

I
wrote this awhile ago inspired by a recent re-showing of 'Manhunter'
on UK TV - it is hard now not to see William Peterson's character of
Will Graham in that and not see him as a young Gil Grissom! It was
clearly a formative movie for WP in creating CSI. So this FanFic is
just a flight of fancy merging the two. I don't know if someone has
done this before - I am sure it is a obvious connection!

And
of course everyone who has seen 'Silence of the Lambs' will find the
character of Hannibal the Cannibal Lecktor totally memorable!
Especially played by Antony Hopkins.

So
no apologies for stealing plot and character elements! This is FanFic
after all!

Summary:
The story deals with Grissom revisiting a case from his early career
at the FBI! Before San Francisco! In it he has to confront his old
advisory, Hannibal Lecktor who is on his death bed. Many aspects of
Grissom's character are explained (and his bandy legs!) by analysis
of this early encounter. There is also abit of GSR thrown in for good
measure just because it is cannon!

Warning
: it deals with a sicko so be warned. Mind you if you are that
delicate then what are you doing watching CSI? Content not that bad,
but you know, its Lecktor...

Disclaimer:
Obviously stole all characters situations etc.

Disclaimer:
I am not a writer so please excuse the spelling & gammer – I am
dyslexic but I hope that does not spoil the story too much.

-----------------------

CSI
Manhunter Part 1

Sara
smiled as she saw the single red rose resting on her pillow. Grissom
had flown out to Boston that morning to an Forensic Entomology
Conference.

She
loved his quite little touches of romance such as the rose. She
smiled too because she knew his deeper meaning - that rose was a real
flower, not plastic - he was saying that their love was the real
thing, not a fake one at some showy wedding. He remembered of course,
what she had said about her observations of the case a few months ago
with the woman dragged behind the wedding car. She hoped he would
ring tonight to tell her how his presentation at the conference went.
Though he seemed more worried about the form of his racing roaches
than his presentation before he left!

----------

In
a large lecture theatre in Boston, the chairman of the session on
"Environmental factors effecting the establishment of time-lines
from insect development", stood up and addressed the audience.

"So
if there are no further questions for Dr Grissom, then I would like
to bring this session to a close for lunch, and ask you to thank our
speaker for a very stimulating paper." The audience gave a
short, professional round of applause.

Grissom,
dressed smartly in his dark suit and tie, gathered up his notes and
removed his memory stick with his PowerPoint presentation on it, from
the back of the projector laptop on the podium. The audience hurried
out not wanting to miss out any further on the buffet lunch, as
Grissom's talk had over run due to the many questions it had
stimulated.

When
Grissom was finished he looked up to see one figure remaining in the
auditorium. A mixture of emotions ran through Grissom's mind as he
recognized Jack Crawford the Deputy Director of the FBI.

It
had been along time since they worked together. In fact it was
Grissom's first job in his early twenties, immediately after
finishing his PhD. He had been headhunted by Crawford during the time
of his PhD studies in ULA to join his 'Serial Crimes Unit' at the
FBI. The Unit dealt with serial killers that crossed jurisdiction
boundaries. Grissom had left the FBI to joint San Francisco Police
Department CSI lab after only 4 years with Crawford. Few people at LV
CSI knew of his dalliance with the FBI, except Brass of course, who
had recruited Grissom from San Francisco. However many knew of
Grissom's contempt for their methods of bullying their way into local
police Dept cases.

Grissom
picked up his briefcase and walked down off the podium to face
Crawford. He waited for Crawford to speak.

"A
very interesting talk Gil. I see you still have not lost your edge.
Tell me, how are things in Las Vegas?"

"Very
well thank you"

"I
see since you arrived there LV Crime Lab has made it up to No. 2 in
the national ratings. That does not surprise me".

Ignoring
his attempt at chit-chat and flattery, Grissom asks "What can I
do for you, Jack?"

"Yes
indeed. Haven't seen you in 20 years and suddenly interested in blow
flies! I think not! I'll get right to the point. An old friend of
yours is asking for you"

Grissom's
frowns." What old friend?"

"Lecktor"

Grissom
takes a deep breath as Crawford continues. "He is 89 now and in
ill health. They say he has only a few weeks to live at most. And he
wants to see you".

Grissom
looks puzzled "Me? Why?"

"Well
I suppose you were the investigator that finally 'beat him'. I think
you are the only one he respects" he says riley.

"But
he nearly crippled me for life..." replies Grissom remembering
back the months of rehabilitation needed to learn how to walk again
that left him with permanent "bow legged" stance.

It
was during that time that Grissom re-evaluated many aspects of his
life, including his role in the FBI.

Crawford
obviously was thinking back to the same time. "I know you blamed
me for pushing you to a place you didn't want to go. But now you are
in charge of investigations yourself I'd hoped you'd understand my
motives better..."

"The
ends justifies the means?... You used me like a disposable commodity,
Jack." Grissom reminds him " You let me get so far into the
mind of a psychopathic killer it could have driven me over the edge."

"Yes
but you have to admit it made you into one of the formidable
authorities on serial killers? I know from your career since that
you have put away several who wound have gone on to kill more, like
Milander and the Blue Paint killer."

"Your
point being?" Grissom demanded, unconvinced.

"It
made you who you are"

"No.
It nearly destroyed me". Grissom corrects.

"The
Tooth Fairy case?" Crawford nods in understanding.

"Yes"

Unparsed
Crawford emphasizes "You did the right thing. If you hadn't
fired I'd not be here."

Grissom
raises a sarcastic eyebrow.

Crawford
humphs then continues "I know you didn't want to take a life"

"It
wasn't just that" interjected Grissom "I did not like what
I'd become, or what I felt I was too close to becoming". Grissom
remembers the feeling of almost euphoria at stopping the serial
killer nicknamed 'The Tooth Fairy', in his tracks by emptying a
pistol magazine into him. He will never forget seeing the bullets
searing into his body as he was about to club Crawford to death. It
was the reason Grissom did not want to ever be put in the position
where he might have to do that again. And why he had chosen the more
purely scientific role of a police CSI which did not necessarily
require him to carry a gun, rather than FBI investigator - who was
more gun-carrying-detective/ forensic scientist.

"Look
Gil, we have had this discussion before when you decided to leave".
He pauses "None of this matters now. You made your choice, and I
made mine. But maybe we can find little Ellie Smith's body if you
talk to Lecktor? Then at least we can give her parents some closure,
even after all this time".

Grissom
looks away as he recalls the case. They had always suspected that
there was one last victim of Lecktor's to be accounted for. But
Lecktor took delight in their futile efforts to gather information
from psychopathic doctor.

Finally
Grissom comes to a decision. "OK Crawford. Maybe it is time to
put some ghosts to rest..."

Grissom
signed "I know, love, it's... it's...just so much to go through
over the phone. I want to explain it to you in full, face-to-face".

"You
know I'll understand whatever, Griss. I love you." Sara resigned
herself to having to wait awhile longer for Grissom's return. But she
could not help but feel frustrated by his lack of full disclosure.
But she knew this was different from the reticent Grissom before they
were together. Now she knew how open and inclusive he really was to
those close to him. So she will wait.

Grissom
continues "I'll ring Ecklie and Catherine and just say I need
some vacation time. Lord knows I have enough saved up."

"This
isn't going to be dangerous is it?" Sara asks.

"No.
I cannot see how. I'm just going to see someone from an old case,
that's all. Crawford hopes I'll be able to get some information out
of them that he couldn't".

"Ok
my love. Well, so I'll see you in another week then?"

"At
most. Yes, I'll ring again. Goodnight. I love you."

"Goodnight.
Love you too" She hangs up.

--------------

It
had been more than 2 decades since Grissom had been in the FBI Top
Security Hospital Prison for the Criminally Insane in Baltimore.
Grissom had often thought it ironic that with the death penilty being
legal in many states, but many of the worst criminals were considered
too insane to execute.

Hannibal
Lecktor had been one of the worse cases imaginable. He had not only
killed, without the slightest element of conscious, but quite
indiscriminately. Hannibal's bizarre predilection for human flesh had
lead to the inevitable nickname of 'Hannibal the Cannibal'. He had
lured his victims using his considerable intellect and psychological
medical training. His remarkable ability to get inside a person head
and f with it would lead anyone to insanity. Grissom was not
looking forward to any conversation with the man, no matter how ill
he maybe.

Grissom
thought how old Lecktor appeared as he looked at the figure secured
to the hospital bed all in white. His eyes were shut and without that
incredible unblinking stare he looked like any fragile old man. But
Grissom knew different. This was one of the most evil men in criminal
history.

Grissom
made no reply. None seemed necessary. He knew Lecktor would be
assessing Grissom's appearance, gathering fuel to dig into the very
core of him with his laser sharp intellect.

But
Grissom was aware that he was not the Grissom Lecktor had known 20
years ago. Grissom knew who he was, and was happy with it. More so
now than at any other point in his life, he realised.

"I
see I left my mark on you..." Lecktor starts, referring to
Grissom's distorted legs " at least you are learned to walk.
Pity. I should have made a better job of it, it was my intent. What
is the good in having a medical degree if one 'misses the mark' so
badly?"

"What
do you want?" Replies Grissom keen to make this exchange as
short as possible.

"Ahhhh...
want out of my company so soon? I've followed your career with
interest... I guess I cannot call you 'young Gilbert'
anymore?...Still have the beard I see...do the women like the
way it tickles?"

"Spare
me, Lecktor, I'm not playing. I don't have to stay a moment longer in
this room than I want to. Crawford said you wanted to say something
about Ellie Smith? Care to share?" Grissom looks as unemotional
as he can manage.

"Indulge
me, I am dying after all. Do I not deserve a last request?"

"No"
Grissom looked steadily at Lecktor's unblinking gaze. Matching him
with defiance the young Grissom could only struggle to maintain.

Lecktor
gives in a margin.

"Ellie,
she was a pretty flower... she came apart like twigs. There is no fun
in that. Such tiny organs, too tender to roast, just a light
flombay..."

Grissom
sighs "I don't have to listen to this anymore. And I have seen
allot more since. If you want to tell us where she is then do.
Otherwise this conversation is over".

"Stumped
my dear old friend? You disappointment me. And you the brightest they
had to offer".

"It
is simplicity itself to make up the puzzle when you already know the
answer" replies Grissom.

"True,
true" confirms Lecktor. "Where should a girl of 12 be?"
Grissom does not respond. So Lecktor continues "Why at school of
course... learning her lessons... or perhaps somewhere where the
headmaster could keep a careful eye on her..."

Grissom
remembered then, the girl's father was the headmaster of a girl's
school 'Our Lady's Catholic' school. Mary of course. It would be
typical of Lecktor too to bury the remains so close to the grieving
parents. Sick jokes were part of his signiture. Not knowing that her
last resting place was so near to them day by day would amuse
Lecktor.

"Well
I'll tell you anyway. You came close didn't you? " Lecktor
taunts him "To seeing why?" Grissom frowns. Lecktor
explains further "You were the only one with the intellect to
connect... it scared you didn't it?"

Then
Grissom smiled slightly and decided to answer him "It did then.
But not now. I was young and idealistic. I know the difference very
clearly now between being able to understand the criminal mind and
having a criminal mind. Insane or otherwise."

Lecktor
stared into his eyes, trying to test the depth of his resolve,
Grissom realised what he was doing. But Lecktor couldn't touch him
anymore. Maybe that was it? Grissom suddenly saw. Maybe that was why
Lecktor wanted to see him? He had seen the inner strength in Grissom
that had made him impervious to Lecktor's psychological destruction?
He'd been more aware of Grissom's mental strength than he had been
himself.

Lecktor
now had wanted to see how Grissom had faired? Had he grown to see
that strength or had he let the self doubt of youth erode it? Had
Lecktor won?

Grissom
knew Lecktor had his answer. No. Grissom was a mirror to Lecktor! He
was what someone of Lecktor's abilities could have been, if he hadn't
been insane.

Twenty
years ago Grissom had been haunted by the idea that he, Grissom,
could have been a Lecktor, but for a twist of fate. But
Lecktor had seen the opposite parallel.

And
for Grissom that demon who was called 'Lecktor' was now gone.

Grissom
knew Lecktor would have seen much of this interplay on Grissom face.
He had an incredible ability to read people. It was what had made him
so frightening.

Back
in Las Vegas. Grissom is sitting up in bed with Sara leaning back on
his chest, wrapped in his arms. She had listened without an
interruption to his long narrative and self analysis. An aspect of
him that, really only she knew he was capable of.

"And
now he's gone?" She finally says.

"Yes
he only lasted another few days" Grissom mused.

"Your
great nemesis..." Sara summarized.

"Possibly."
He pauses "I would hope to be somewhere on the opposite end of
the spectrum to an insane psychopath alright!" he said with a
mocking exclamation as he gives her a nuzzle into her neck. Sara
couldn't help but giggle at his trickly beard.

"He
was right about one thing for sure..." she says "I like the
way your beard tickles!" they both laugh.

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